North Korea Fires Short-Range Ballistic Missiles in Back-to-Back Launches as Pyongyang Issues Threatening Statement Toward Seoul
North Korean 600mm multiple rocket launcher system during a prior test firing. (Photo: KCNA, file) Credit: KCNA
KOREAN PENINSULA — North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, April 8, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported, marking the second launch in two days after an apparent failed attempt on Tuesday.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) stated the launches “do not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies.”
The launches came as North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling South Korea “the most hostile enemy state” and stating “you will have to pay dearly if you persist in rash acts before us,” according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s state-run media.
The back-to-back firings followed South Korean President Lee’s expression of regret over drone flights by unidentified drones into North Korean territory, Yonhap News Agency (South Korean state-run media) reported.
Launch Details
The JCS announced it detected missiles launched from the Munchon area in the North’s Kangwon Province toward the East Sea at around 6:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to Yonhap. The missiles flew approximately 350 km, the JCS added.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities “have tracked the launch movement and closely shared relevant information,” according to the JCS.
Wednesday’s launches followed a separate incident on Tuesday, April 7, when North Korea fired an unspecified projectile from the Pyongyang area. That projectile “disappeared shortly after it was fired on an apparent failure,” according to Yonhap. South Korean and U.S. intelligence are still analyzing Tuesday’s launch.
INDOPACOM Response
INDOPACOM released a statement dated April 7 addressing both days of launches. The statement read: “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles on April 7-8, 2026. We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners.”
“Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies,” the statement added. “The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.”
Drone Flights and South Korean Response
The launches followed South Korean President Lee’s remarks at a Cabinet meeting in which he expressed regret over drone flights into North Korean airspace. Lee said the incidents “caused unnecessary military tension with Pyongyang.”
Hours after Lee’s remarks, a North Korean statement called on Seoul to stop “endless provocation” against Pyongyang and to “refrain from any attempt at contact".
